Combination of an uncoiler and apparatus for mounting coil on the uncoiler



United States Patent [72] Inventors Franz Sedlacek;

Hans Weinzinger, Vienna, Austria [21 1 Appl. No. 769,675 [22] Filed Oct. 22, 1968 [45] Patented Dec. 22, 1970 [73] Assignee Vereinigte Osterreichische Eisen-und Stahlwerke Aktiengesellschafl Linz, Austria [32] Priority Nov. 6, 1967 [33] Austria [3 I No. A9948/67 [54] COMBINATION OF AN UNCOILER AND APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING A COIL ON THE UNCOILER 20 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl. 242/78.6 [51] Int. Cl B21c 47/16 [50] Field of Search 242/78.6, 78.7, 79 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,571,947 10/ l 951 Russell 242/78.6

Primary Examiner-Nathan L. Mintz Attorney-Kurt Kelman ABSTRACT: A lifting table carrying a coil performs a lifting movement from a lower-most position to a position, in which the axes of the coil and an uncoiler are aligned. The lifting table has a coil-contacting surface. Lifting drive means impart said lifting movement to said lifting table. Deenergizing means are provided for deenergizing said lifting drive means. A feeler is adapted to follow said lifting movement and has a coil-contacting surface which is engageable with the coil in said lowermost position. First and second linkages are connected to said lifting table and feeler, respectively. A first indicating device is connected to said first linkage and adapted to produce a signal indicating the distance from said uncoiler axis to said coil-contacting surface. A second indicating device is connected to said second linkage and adapted to produce, a second signal, which is comparable with said first signal and indicates the distance from said uncoiler axis to said coil-contacting surface of said feeler.

PATENTEU UEB22 lsm saw 2 or 5 FIG. 2

l N VISN I URS RAM W BY @i (M COMBINATION OF AN UNCOILER AND APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING A COIL ON THE UNCOILER Plants for processing rolled strip, such as strip-pickling plants, strip-rolling plants, strip-slitting plants, strip-tinning plants and strip-galvanizing plants, strip-coating plants and the like usually include an uncoiler, which holds the coil to be processed and enables the strip to be withdrawn from the coil by a rotation of the latter. The uncoilers may consist of double uncoilers comprising two relatively movable reel stands each provided with a rotatable reel mandrel having radially expansible segments, which forcibly engage the inside periphery of the coil so that braking or driving torques can be transmitted. Other uncoilers have only one reel mandrel, which in that case has an expansible portion in a length which is approximately as large as the width of the widest coil to be handled.

In connection with all these uncoilers, apparatus is required for mounting the coil on the reel mandrel or mandrels, for instance by means of a lifting table.

It will be understood that the magnitude of the stroke of the lifting table cannot remain the same when the outside diameter of the coil is changed. If successive coils differ in outside diameter, the lifting table must be lifted different distances in each case to ensure that the axis of the coil resting with its outside periphery on the lifting table will be aligned with the uncoiler axis, whereafter the cones of the reel stands can grip the coil in its central opening and the mandrel or mandrels can engage in the opening of the coil. This dependence of the lifting stroke on the outside diameter of the coil is inconsistent with a simple solution to the problem to use an automatic sequence control for all movements that are required for the mounting of the coils on the uncoiler. It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus in which the lifting drive is automatically deenergized as soon as the axes of the coil and of the uncoiler are aligned so that all movements required for the mounting of the coil can be automatically controlled in a simple manner and which is unaffected even by large differences between the diameters of the coils to be handled whereas parts of the uncoiler participate in performing the required functions.

Based on an apparatus for mounting coils on an uncoiler, which apparatus comprises a lifting table, which may be wheeled, and which lifts the coil placed thereon to the level of the uncoiler axis, and means for deenergizing the lifting drive when the axes of "the coil and uncoiler are aligned, this object is accomplished according to the invention substantially by the provision of a feeler roller or the like, which is engageable with the coil resting on the lowered table and participates in the lifting movement. The lifting table and the feeler roller are connected to devices which indicate measured values respectively representing the distance of the uncoiler axis from the contact surface between the coil and the lifting table and between the coil and the feeler roller, which measured values are visually, mechanically or electrically comparable so that the lifting drive can be deenergized automatically, if desired, when the values are equal. When the lifting table is lowered, the contact surface between the same and the coil is obviously at the largest distance from the uncoiler axis whereas there is only a minimum distance from the uncoiler axis to the contact surface between the coil and the feeler roller or the like, which has been engaged with the coil from above. As the coil is lifted, the first-mentioned distance decreases and the lastmentioned distance increases. When the axes of the coil and uncoiler are aligned, the two distances are equal because they must then be equal to the outer radius of the coil. The invention is based on this recognition.

The subject matter of the invention is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are diagrammatic views showing apparatus for mounting coils on an uncoiler in an initial position and in the position in which the axes of the coil and uncoiler are aligned.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a different embodiment of the lifting table.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment comprising a feeler roller which is carried by a pivoted arm.

FIG. 5 is an end view showing a coil which is mounted on an expanding mandrel.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are diagrammatic general views showing a coil-mounting apparatus in which a feeler roller is carried by a pivoted arm, in the initial and aligned positions, respectively.

The uncoiler consists of one reel stand 1 or two relatively displaceable reel stands 1, each of which reel stands comprises a reel mandrel 2. The uncoiler has associated with it a lifting table 3, which can be hydraulically lifted and lowered by piston-cylinder unit 3a. The table 3 has two surfaces 4, which serve to support a coil 5 and are inclined to each other in the configuration of a flat V. The coil 5 may be directly delivered to the lifting table 3 by a crane or lift truck or may be supplied from a supply position by a suitable conveyor. A feeler roller 7 is movable along a straight line by a piston-cylinder unit 6 to engage the coil 5 from above. As the coil 5 is lifted by the lifting table 3 from its initial position shown in FIG. 1, the feeler roller 7 is lifted too. During this operation, the pressure in the piston-cylinder unit 6 is overcome or the latter is pressure-relieved. The lifting table 3 and the feeler roller 7 are operatively connected to respective transmissions 10, 11 by respective cables or chains 8, 9, which are trained around suitable pulleys or sprockets. One end of cable 9 is attached to bracket 7a which carries feeler roller 7 while one end of cable 8 is attached to abutment 26 which moves freely along vertical guide 44 when engaged by driver 25' affixed to table 3 and displaced therewith. Each transmission 10 and 11 drives a pointer mechanism 12, 13 and 14, 15.

In the initial position shown in FIG. 1, the inclined supporting surface 4 of the lifting table 3, i.e., the contact surface between the coil 5 and the lifting table, has the largest distance A max. from the uncoiler axis 2 which distance is measured along a line perpendicular to inclined surface 4 and, therefore, inclined to the vertical. In the illustrated position, the distance from the contact surface between the coil 5 and the feeler roller 7 from that'uncoiler axis is a minimum and designated B min., which distance is measured along a vertical line. As the coil 5 is lifted by the lifting table 3, the distance A is decreased in proportion to the lifting displacement, the decrease of the distance being equal to the lifting displacement multiplied by the cosine of the angle of inclination of the supporting surface 4. At the same time, the distance B associated with the feeler roller is increased by the lifting displacement. When the coil has reached the displacement in which the axis of the coil is aligned with the axis of the mandrel or uncoiler, as is shown in FIG. 2, the supporting surface 4, on the one hand, and the feeler roller 7, on the other hand, contact the outside periphery of the coil 5 so that the distances A and B are equal to each other and to the outer radius of the coil. This requirement will always be fulfilled regardless of the outside diameter of the coil.

The devices consisting of the pointer mechanisms 12, 13 and 14, 15 indicate measured values which correspond to the distances A and B. The linkages consisting of the cables or chains 8, 9 and the transmissions 10, 11 are designed so that equal and codirectional displacements of the lifting table 3 and the feeler roller 7 will result in a movement of the pointers 13, 15 through equal angles in opposite directions. Hence, the scales on the dials 12, 14 represent values which increase in the same direction. When the coil is in the position shown in FIG. 2, the pointers 13, 15 will be aligned with each other. This can easily be observed so that the operator can readily deenergize the lifting drive for the lifting table 3 at the proper time, when the pointers are aligned.

The illustrated pointers l3, 15 have electric contact fingers so that a circuit is closed and the lifting drive is automatically deenergized when the pointers are aligned.

If it is not desired to allow for the angle of inclination of the supporting surfaces 4 in the design of the transmission 10 or if the lifting table 3 is provided with carrying rollers 16, as is shown in FIG. 3, the lifting table has a support plate 45 carrying a vertically displaceable follower 17, which is connected to the cable or chain 8. The follower is urged upwardly by spring force or a pressure fluid so that it constantly contacts the coil 5 regardless of the outside diameter thereof. The follower constitutes the contact surface between the coil and the lifting table so that the distance A or A max from the end face of the The feeler roller 7 need not be moved along a straight line but may be mounted on a pivoted arm 18 because such an arrangement is structurally simpler and less expensive a pistoncylinder unit 6' being provided for pivoting the arm. Whereas 1 during a straight-line movement of the feeler roller 7 the ,change of the distance B is proportional to the displacement of the feeler roller 7 and the measured values indicated by the pointer mechanism l4, l5 vary linearly with time, the change of the distance B will not be linear with respect to the change of the angular position of the pivoted arm. For instance, if the 'rneasuring range to be utilized should be equal to the difference between the radii of the largest and smallest coils 5 to be handled in the plant, as is shown in FIG. 4, and if this range is divided into, e.g., four equal parts, an analogue subdivision of the total angular range to be covered by the pivoted arm 18 will result but the partial angles will no longer be equal for geometrical reasons. When the lifting table performs four equal partial displacements in accordance with the selected division, the corresponding angular movements of the pivoted arm l8'will be different; these angular movements will determine the adjustment of the pointer mechanism or the like. It is apparent from FlG.4, however, that although the length of the pivoted arm 18 and the distance from its pivotal axis to the axis of the mandrel or uncoiler are extremely small, the nonu- 'niformity of the angular movement is hardly noticeable. In practice, this means that a change of the distance B may be assumed to result in a unifonn or linear variation of the angular movement with time. lfthe deviation resulting from the linear variation of the indicated measured values with respect to time, on the one hand, and thenonlinear variation of the angular movement with respect to time, on the other hand, is checked by a calculation based on the geometric arrange ment, it will be apparent that the offset between the uncoiler axis and the coil axis will be only a few millimeters, at most, at the time when both devices or pointer mechanisms or the like indicate the same measured values. Because there is a large difference between the inside diameter of the coil and the outside diameter of the mandrel 2 or the like when the expanding segments have been retracted, such small deviation is virtually insignificant.

When deviations from the theoretical position of alignment are to be expected for the above-mentioned reason or owing to the inertia of the switchgear for the lifting drive, the pointer mechanisms or transmissions should be adjusted so that the deviations occur only in the direction of the eccentricity e indicated in FIG. 5. As a result, an expanding of the mandrel 2 will cause the uppermost expanding segment to contact the inside periphery of the coil first and will cause the coil to be lifted by the expanding force until all expanding segments contact the coil. If the eccentricity would exist in the opposite direction, the lowermost expanding segment would contact the inside periphery of the coil first. Because the coil rests on the lifting table, which cannot be depressed, the force which is due to the reaction to the entire expanding force would act on the reel mandrel 2 and the resulting bending stress might cause damage to the mandrel and the expanding mechanism.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show an arrangement in which the feeler roller 7 is carried by a pivoted arm 18 and bears on a backing roller 19. The roller 7 consists of a reverse bending roller for the strip which is to be withdrawn from the coil by pinch rolwill remain on the level it has reached when the solenoid valve 22 is in its neutral position. Throttling check valves 24 enable an adjustment of the lifting and lowering movements.

The lifting table 3 is provided with a driver 25, which consists of a set screw and which engages an abutment 26 after a predetermined lost motion...'Ihe abutment 26 is secured to a longitudinally displaceable rack 27, which is in mesh with a pinion 28, which by a transmission .10 drives an electric synchro 29. A restoring means 30 produces a force which is to be overcome during a lifting movement and which tends to restore the entire system to its initial position.

The piston-cylinder unit 6" which imparts a pivotal movement to the pivoted arm 18' until the feeler roller or reverse bending roller 7 has engaged the coil consists of a pneumatic piston'cylinder unit and the application of pressure thereto is controlled by a solenoid valve 31. The throttling check valves 32 serve to adjust the speed of the pivotal movements in both directions. The pivotal movement of the pivoted arm 18' is transmitted by a driver, which also consists of aset screw 33 and after a predetermined lost motion strikes on a positioning lever 34 to impart a downward pivotal movement thereto. The positioning lever transmits the pivotal movement by the-transmission 11 to an electric synchro 35.'The transmission 11 is also provided with a restoring means'36.

FIG. 6 shows the lifting table 3 in the initial position as the beginning of the coil-mounting operation at the time when the solenoid valve 22 has just been shifted. The solenoid valve 31 was previously shifted to cause the piston-cylinder unit 6" to move the feeler roller or reverse bending roller 7 into engagement with the coil 5. The additional solenoid valve 37 has been moved to the venting position shown in FIG. 6 so that the feeler roller or reverse bending roller 7 engages the coil 5 only under the action of gravity. When the lifting movement of the lifting table 3 now begins, neither the, synchro 29 nor the synchro 35 will respond initially. The distance between the driver 25 and the abutment 26 is selected so that the latter will not be driven until the distance from the lifting table to the uncoiler axis corresponds to the radius of the largest possible coil. The driver 33 and the positioning lever 34 are so adjusted relative to each other that the positioning lever 34 is not contacted and driven until the distance from the feeler roller or reverse bending roller 7 to the uncoiler axis is equal to .the outer radius of the smallest possible coil.

The synchros 29 and 35 or the linkages associated therewith are adjusted so that each synchro delivers equal electrical values for equal angular positions or equal distances A, B. The transmitters are fed by lines 38. The electrical values measured by the synchros 29, 35 are fed by transmitting lines 39, 40 to a common switch-actuating comparator 41. When the position of alignment shown in FIG. 7 has been reached, both synchros 29, 35 deliver equal electrical values so that the distances A and B are equal to each other and to the coil radius. In this case, the switch-actuating comparator 41 closes the circuit of the relay 42 so that the normally open contact 43 thereof causes the solenoid valve 22 to be shifted to its neutral position to terminate the lifting movement of the lifting table 3. Obviously, the synchros may be replaced by potentiometers.

We claim:

1. The combination of an uncoiler defining an uncoiler axis and apparatus for mounting a coil on said uncoiler, said apparatus comprising:

a lifting table adapted to carry a coil and to perform a lifting movement from a predetermined lowermost position to an aligned position, in which the axis of a coil carried by said lifting table is aligned with said uncoiler axis, said lifting table having a coil-contacting surface arranged to contact a coil carried by said lifting table;

lifting drive means operable to impart said lifting movement to said lifting table;

deenergizing means for deenergizing said lifting drive means;

a feeler which is adapted to follow said lifting movement and has a coil-contacting surface which is engageable with a coil carried by said lifting table in said lowermost position;

a first linkage connected to said lifting table;

a second linkage connected to said feeler;

a first indicating device connected to said first linkage and adapted to produce a signal indicating the distance from said uncoiler axis to said coil contacting surface of said lifting table; and

a second indicating device connected to said second linkage and adapted to produce a second. signal, which is comparable to said first signal and indicates the distance from said uncoiler axis to said coil-contacting surface of said feeler.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1, in which said feeler consists of a feeler roller.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2, in which said uncoiler comprises a pressure roller constituting said feeler roller.

4. The combination set forth in claim 2, in which said uncoiler comprises a bending roller constituting said feeler roller.

5. The combination set forth in claim 2, in which said uncoiler comprises a reverse bending roller constituting said feeler roller.

6. The combination set forth in claim 1, which comprises a comparator arranged to compare said first and second signals and to indicate the equality of said signals, said deenergizing means being operatively connected to said comparator and arranged to deenergizc said lifting drive. means when said comparator indicates the equality of said signals.

7. The combination set forth in claim 6, in which said signals are mechanical signals.

8. The combination set forth in claim 6, in which said signals are electric signals.

9. The combination set forth in claim,6, in which said indicating devices comprise first and second transmitters adapted to produce said first and second signals, respectively, said deenergizing means comprise a switch which is operable to deenergize said lifting drive means when said comparator indicates the equality of said signals, and each of said linkages comprises a transmission.

10. The combination set forth in claim 9, in which each of said transmitters consists of a synchro.

11. The combination set forth in claim 1, in which said signals are visual signals.

12. The combination set forthin claim 1, in which each of said indicating service consists of a pointer device, said indicating devices are aligned with and face each other and arranged for an adjustment in mutually opposite senses in response to equal codirectional movements of the lifting table and feeler, and each of said linkages comprises a transmission.

13. The combination set forth in claim 12, in which each of said pointer devices comprises a pointer, which are arranged to be aligned to indicate that said first and second signals are equal, said deenergizing means comprise electric contacts carrier by said pointers and operable to deenergize said lifting drive means when said pointers are in alignment.

14. The combination set forth in claim 1, which comprises a piston-cylinder unit operable to move said feeler into and out of engagement with a coil carried by said table.

15. The combination set forth in claim 14, which comprises means arranged to pressure-relieve said piston-cylinder unit during the lifting movement of the table.

16. The combination set forth in claim 1, in which each of said linkages comprises a pivoted arm carrying said feeler and a transmission operatively connecting'said pivoted arm to the respective indicating device.

17. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which:

said lifting table comprises a support plate and a follower,

which is vertically displaceable relative to said plate into engagement with a coil carried by said table, and is movable with said coil during the lifting movement of said table;

said follower has an upper end face which constitutes said coil-contacting surface; and

said first linkage connects said follower to said first indicating device.

18. The combination set forth in claim 1, for handling coils only within a predetermined initial radial size range, in which said linkages are lost-motion mechanisms arranged to delay the operation of said indicating devices after the beginning of the movement of said lifting table and feeler until the distance from the uncoiler axis to the coil-contacting surface of the lifting table is equal to the largest radius of said range and the distance from the uncoiler axis to the coil-contacting surface of the feeler is equal to the smallest radius of said range.

19. The combination set forth in claim 18, in which each of said linkages comprises a driver which is adjustable to vary said lost motion.

20. The combination set forth in claim 19, which comprises restoring means tending to return said linkages to an initial position and to produce a force opposing the lifting movement of said lifting table. 

